Marigolds

8:08:37 AM EDT

Basil, marigolds, parsley among tomato's friends

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Are you growing tomatoes this year? If you are, did you know that planting some other plants near your tomatoes will help them? Having tomatoes all by themselves or any plants all by themselves is not good. It is better to have a variety as some of the plants help attract good bugs or do other things to benefit the plants around them.

Here is a list of plants beneficial to tomatoes along with some extra information.

Basil

Basil is good to add to all sorts of tomato dishes and it is also beneficial to grow around tomatoes. Any variety is good to plant with your tomato plants. Just like tomatoes, they like sun and lots of it. When your basil starts to form little flowers, keep pinching them off to keep up the production of leaves.

Marigold

Marigolds are very pretty planted around and in a vegetable garden. They repel harmful nematodes and whiteflies and are beneficial in other ways as well. I once saw a very large and attractive veggie garden that was bordered on all sides with cheerful yellow and orange marigolds. Marigolds are easily grown from seed right now or purchased in multi-packs almost everywhere in late spring. I prefer the shorter French marigolds, as they don't overwhelm the other plants.

Borage

This is an interesting herb that I wrote about last year. Grown near tomatoes, it actually improves the health of tomatoes, repels tomato worms and even makes them taste better. Borage grows to about two feet tall, has large fuzzy leaves that taste like cucumber. Young leaves can be put into salads. Older leaves can be cut up a bit and added to soups and stir-fries in the last few minutes — very yummy. With borage in your garden you will always have some "greens" to add to something. Once you have some borage in your garden it will self-seed and come back every year.

Sage

Sage is a perennial herb that is not

only good to add to pork and poultry dishes but is also attractive. Plant a new one every few years. The blooms are pretty as well. Sage is easy to dry and then use all year long.

Parsley

My favorite kind is the flat leaf parsley — it is generally thought to be more tasty than the curly. I like to pick some parsley and munch on it out in the garden — it is packed with vitamin C and it also freshens your breath. Pick and chop some fresh parsley and sprinkle on soup, boiled new potatoes, cooked carrots and more.

Nasturtium

Aphids and whiteflies do not like nasturtiums. Nasturtiums are pretty, colorful and help attract bees and other pollinators to your garden. Without pollinating insects, plants won't produce fruit. Leaves and flowers are both edible and can be eaten on sandwiches instead of lettuce, or added to salads. They bloom all summer long and can very easily be planted from seed.

Onions and Chives

Beneficial to tomato plants — chives are perennials and will return every year. One can snip off some chives all summer and use them in all sorts of dishes including scrambled eggs.

Ildiko Sherman is a local gardener and columnist. Contact her with gardening questions at Ildiko5@earthlink.net or write c/o The Journal, 52 S. Broad St., Middletown, OH 45044.

              

Tags: marigolds, basil, parsley, onion, chives

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8:33:12 AM EDT

         Marigolds - Genus Tagetes

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Tagetes

Tagetes is a genus of about 60 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae). They are native to the area stretching from the southwestern United States into Mexico and south throughout South America.

They are known almost universally in North America as Marigold (not to be confused with the genus Calendula, which goes by the same name in some areas), or variously as Mexican marigolds (or cempasúchil), African marigolds (usually referring to cultivars and hybrids of T. erecta, although this species is not native to Africa), or French marigolds (usually referring to hybrids and cultivars of T. patula, many of which were developed in France although the species is not native to that country). At least one species is a naturalized weed in Africa, Hawaii, and Australia.

The different species vary in size from 0.05-2.2 m tall. They have pinnate green leaves, and white, golden, orange, yellow, to an almost red floral heads typically (0.1-) to 4-6 cm diameter, generally with both ray florets and disc florets.

The foliage has a musky/pungent scent, though some later varieties have been bred to be scentless. It is said to deter some common insect pests (although it is recorded as a food plant for some Lepidoptera larvae including Dot Moth), as well as nematodes. Tagetes are hence often used in companion planting. T. minuta (Khakibush), originally from South America, has been used as a source of essential oil, known as tagette, for the perfume industry as well as a flavourant in the food and tobacco industries in South Africa, where the species is also a useful pioneer plant in the reclamation of disturbed land. Some of the perennial species are deer, rabbit, rodent and javalina resistant.

The common name, "marigold", is derived from "Mary's Gold", and the plant is associated with the Virgin Mary in Christian stories.

The marigold was regarded as the flower of the dead in pre-Hispanic Mexico, parallel to the lily in Europe, and is still widely used in the Day of the Dead celebrations.                                          

                                            

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes

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2:14:22 PM EDT

  Marigold Muffins (calendula) 

Preheat oven to 400°F. Sift flour into a large mixing bowl, add baking powder and salt; set aside. Bring milk up to a boil, then remove from heat. Stir in the petals, honey and vegetable oil. Add egg, then combine with the dry ingredients. Fill muffin tins about 2/3 full. Bake 20 minutes.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk or soy milk

1/4 cup marigold petals
4 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten

NOTE:

Make certain that you use the petals of a pot marigold (Calendula) rather than an African marigold (Tagetes). Always use flowers when freshest, and be sure you're getting them from an organic source so you're not ingesting pesticides.

                                                         

http://www.angelfire.com/co2/dreamwalker/muffin.html

Tags: Marigold Muffins

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4:43:07 AM EDT

    How to Grow Marigolds 

Introduction

Among the easiest of flowers to grow, marigolds provide bright, cheerful color and are extremely easy to start from seed. Marigolds are annuals (meaning they grow for just one year) that need full sun.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Steps

Step One

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10:09:40 AM EDT

   Stand tall with dwarf marigolds  

Article Launched: 04/21/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT

DWARF MARIGOLDS are among the most popular of our summer garden flowers and they lend themselves to many areas of the garden. We plant them in masses for striking displays of color, we plant them as edgings and borders and we plant them in patio containers for their bright colors and their heat tolerance.

Are there any new dwarf marigolds this year? None worth mentioning, but there are still plenty of reliable older varieties, from seed or started plants, to beautify our homes.

The Janie series may be about the best and most planted and one we often see as a started plant in the nursery. That's because the Janie series - Janie gold, deep orange, red and gold, mahogany, yellow and primrose - do well just about everywhere and in all conditions. Janie dwarf marigolds tolerate high summer heat, but also do well in coastal gardens, away from salty ocean breezes. They also make good plantings in any garden as a border, in a flower bed and in a container.

Some other varieties are just about as good. You might want to look for the Durango series, Aurora, Happy Days, Queen Sophia, Embers or Honeycomb. These are all double to semi-double, have flowers that get about 2 inches across on plants that are anywhere from 6 to 12 inches tall. They are compact, with plants spreading to 10 inches, and are always covered with their bright, colorful blooms.

Dwarf marigolds will tolerate just about any summer growing conditions. While they're not drought resistant, they get by with average water during the summer, and require little or no fertilizer. Snails are their worst enemy, especially after they have just been transplanted, but bugs and disease aren't a problem.

Dwarf marigolds will tolerate full sun everywhere, even in the low desert, but will also grow well in partial shade, as long as they get at least six hours of sunlight.

Dwarf marigolds are easy to start from seed, and will germinate quickly, in about six to 10 days from sowing, and can be transplanted when about 3 inches tall. They will grow well and be in bloom in about four to six weeks.

Started plants from the nursery are usually in bloom, in six packs and in 4-inch pots. Started plants can be set in anytime from March through September.

Most gardeners prefer the double bloom type of dwarf marigolds, but there are some distinctive single kinds that look good in the garden. Look for names such as Disco, Sunburst and Mr. Majestic. The singles take the same care as the doubles.

DWARF MARIGOLD                      

Best features: Good summer blooms on dwarf plants

Degree of difficulty: Easy to grow

When to plant: Start seed as early as March through August, set plants in up until September

Where to plant: Full sun to partial shade

Soil specifications: Good soil

Fertilizer and water: Fertilize sparingly, water as needed

Mountain communities: Set plants out after all danger of frost is past

High Desert: Colors are always brighter in the high desert

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2:15:50 PM EDT

Marigolds Make Way for Marijuana in Suburbia                 

   Police Say 'Grow Houses' Have Proliferated Because They Offer Privacy and Move Growers Closer to Their Markets

By PATRIK JONSSON

 SNELLVILLE, Ga., March 11, 2007 — The only permanent residents in the manicured, multigabled ranch east of Atlanta were illegal.

No, not that kind. They were little green creatures of the cannabis family — in short, marijuana plants.

Raids on 40 houses in 12 suburban Georgia counties over the past two weeks are one recent sign of what police say is a national trend in marijuana marketing: growing the illicit crop year-round indoors, using suburban homes as "grow-houses."

Grow-houses — a spacious incarnation of the old grow-room — have proliferated like suburban-garden gnomes, as antidrug squads have chased growers off remote mountainsides and out of cornfields. In these basements, lights hum with thousands of watts across a sea of plants lodged in a hydroponic soup of nutrients. Upstairs, there's usually no furniture, police say, except a cot, a chair and a rabbit-ear TV.

"It's the most impressive thing I've seen in 20 years of law enforcement," says Lt. Jody Thomas of the Fayette County Drug Taskforce.

Police say the 'burbs give growers a degree of solace and safety, protected by suburbia's premium on privacy and even a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prevents law officers from aiming heat-sensing equipment at homes unless they first obtain search warrants.

The trend also signals that "production is moving closer to consumption" — a path that leads straight to the suburbs, says Jon Gettman, editor of the Bulletin of Cannabis Reform in Lovettsville, Va., which promotes legalizing marijuana for medicinal use.

Alarm about suburban pot-growing is rising, and some worry that efforts to eradicate crops grown outdoors are driving the illicit industry to become more entrenched in middle-class America, a la Showtime's hit TV show "Weeds," about a suburban mom who sells pot.

"This is horrifying," says Sue Rusche, president of National Families in Action, which works to help children and teens resist drug use.

In the early 1980s, 80 percent of marijuana on U.S. streets was imported, mostly from Mexico, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), which works to stop arrests of marijuana smokers. Today, 40 percent of the supply is grown domestically — about half of it indoors under high-wattage lights that turn dank basements into sweltering hothouses.

While outdoor growing is risky and the results inconsistent, indoor growing, which began 30 years ago, has become a science, as amateur botanists produce potent varieties in controlled environments. Experts say it was only a matter of time before syndicates began applying basic black-market principles: higher potency and consistent yields equal more profit.

"It's Adam Smith 101," says Allen St. Pierre, executive director of NORML in Washington. "In a world of prohibition, if you can grow it in your little suburban home and cure it properly, it goes right to the top of the market and you see an incredible level of profit that all the other dealers don't enjoy."

Here's how it worked, according to Fayette County's Lieutenant Thomas: A wealthy buyer tied to a group of Cuban nationals in Miami bought homes in the endless suburbs of metro Atlanta. So as not to raise suspicion, growers illegally cut into public utilities such as water and electricity. Fences would go up in the backyards, and basement windows would be blacked over. "Baby sitters" would arrive late at night in pickup trucks, often talking on cellphones. Sometimes they would live in the homes on cots.

Harvested at 90-day intervals, the cured "buds" fetched as much as $6,000 a pound in New York City, where most of the suburban Atlanta crop was shipped. Police say a single house could yield more than $1 million in profit a year. Others say the figure is probably lower because authorities often overestimate per-plant yields.

Georgia has lagged behind in indoor busts, with just one last year. The U.S. government eradicates some 3.5 million marijuana plants each year, mostly outdoors, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. Of some 800,000 marijuana-related arrests in 2005, 90,000 were for trafficking or growing, according to the FBI. The bureau does not further break out its numbers, but experts say growers by far make up the fewest number of arrests.

"We would never have found it without this tip from Florida," says Thomas, referring to a similar series of busts of the same organization in the Miami area earlier this year. "It's so extravagant, yet it has some amount of legitimacy. There's often a car parked in the yard, but no traffic in and out, no buyers."

Growers may have had several reasons for setting up shop in subdivisions like Summit Chase here in Snellville. A key one, though, is the privacy ethos. Darrell Lamb, a local high schooler, says the smell of pot would "slap me across the face" as he and some friends shot arrows in the nearby woods. But he never called the police.

Pat Edwards, who lives across the street, says privacy and anonymity trumped suspicion of the "unfriendly" men who tended the house at 2851 Creekwood Drive, but who evidently did not live there.

"Nobody really speaks to each other on this street, and that's how we all like it," she says. "Maybe these guys sensed that."

Still, people talk. Pre-bust, the biggest gossip in the neighborhood was how the house at 2851 Creekwood fetched one of the highest sales prices in the subdivision, $219,000. Post-bust, speculation centered on whether it would affect property values. Closing up a yard sale across the street, Edwards struck a pragmatic note as she looks to leave the city for her childhood home in south Georgia.

"Maybe they want to buy my house," she jokes. "I've got a big basement."                            

Christian Science Monitor

Tags: marigolds, marijuana

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8:38:31 AM EST

                            Marigolds - Asteraceae/Compositae

Description
Hundreds of varieties of marigold have been developed for the garden over the last few hundred years. These plants were brought from the new world to Europe in the 16th century and plant hybridizers have been busy with them ever since.

Marigolds are categorized into three groups: French, African and triploid marigolds. The French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are small bushy plants that are about 6-12 in (15-30 cm) in height. The flowers are up to 2 in (5 cm) across and are composed of a dense arrangement of "rays" that come in yellow, orange and a unique bronze color. The French marigolds bloom continuously until cut down by frost. The African marigolds (Tagetes erecta), also called American marigolds, are tall stout plants that grow to 3 ft (0.9 m) in height. They have larger blossoms and a shorter flowering period than their French cousins - remove faded flowers to encourage a second flush of bloom. The triploid marigolds are sterile hybrids obtained by crossing the French with the African species. These triploids are non-stop bloomers with impressive 3 in (7.6 cm) flower heads in clear warm colors of gold, yellow, red and russet. The leaves of all marigolds are dark green, deeply divided and have a somewhat unpleasant, aromatic fragrance.

Location
Despite its common name, the African marigold (T. erecta) is native to Mexico and Central America. The French marigold (T. patula), is also from this region. Marigolds have naturalized in many other warm climate areas all over the world.

Culture
Marigolds are not fussy, they will adapt to most garden soils.
Light: Full sun.
Moisture: Water during periods of drought.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 9 - 11. Marigolds are tender tropical plants and are killed by frost. But as garden annuals they are grown, well, everywhere!
Propagation: The black needle-like seeds can be easily sown directly where they are to be grown - even by young kids. When seedlings are 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) high thin to 12 in (30 cm) apart. They can also be sown indoors and transplanted outdoors when danger of frost has passed.

Usage
There is no finer plant for use in beds and borders than the marigold. Common but colorful, inexpensive and easy to germinate and grow, there are varieties available in a wide range of heights, hues and flower forms. The marigold is a workhorse of the garden where they bloom non-stop for virtually the entire summer. The rugged marigolds are perfect for containers where they combine well with other plants (I like them with blue sage and blue ageratum). Plant marigolds in the vegetable garden where they are said to discourage certain insect pests.

Features
Fast growth, nonstop color, and resistance to disease and pests make marigolds superstars in the garden. These tough annuals are perfect "learner plants" for demonstrating plant care and the miracle of seed germination to young kids. Marigolds have the stamina and endurance to survive an entire life cycle under the care of a 5 year old! Marigold flower petals are fed to chickens which imparts a yellow hue to the meat and fat - this provides no nutritional benefits but is said to be preferred by consumers.

Another Tagetes species is commonly called Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida). It is used in the kitchen as a substitute for the more familiar French tarragon.  

                                                           

Floridata

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11:56:27 PM EST

            Varieties of Marigolds   

A native of Mexico, marigolds have been grown in gardens throughout the world for hundreds of years. Today, they are one of the most popular bedding plants in the United States. Marigolds are easy to grow, bloom reliably all summer, and have few insect and disease problems. The marigold's only shortcoming (for some people) is its pungent aroma.

There are numerous marigold varieties available to home gardeners. Many of the commonly grown marigolds are varieties of African and French marigolds. Less known are the triploid hybrids and the signet marigolds. The African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) have large, double, yellow-to-orange flowers from midsummer to frost. Flowers may measure up to 5 inches across. Plant height varies from 10 to 36 inches. African marigolds are excellent bedding plants. Tall varieties can be used as background plantings. Suggested African marigolds for Iowa include varieties in the Inca and Perfection series. (A series is a group of closely related varieties with uniform characteristics, such as height, spread, and flowering habit. The only characteristic that varies within a series is flower color.) African marigolds are also referred to as American marigolds.

The French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are smaller, bushier plants with flowers up to 2 inches across. Flower colors are yellow, orange, and mahogany-red. Many varieties have bicolored flowers. Flower heads may be single or double. Plant height ranges from 6 to 18 inches. The French marigolds have a longer blooming season than the African marigolds. They generally bloom from spring until frost. The French marigolds also hold up better in rainy weather. French marigolds are ideal for edging flower beds and in mass plantings. They also do well in containers and window boxes. Queen Sophia and Golden Gate are excellent French marigold varieties. Varieties in the Boy, Early Spice, Hero, Janie, and Safari series also perform well in Iowa.

The triploid hybrids are crosses between the tall, vigorous African marigolds and the compact, free-flowering French marigolds. Triploid hybrid marigolds are unable to set seed. As a result, plants bloom repeatedly through the summer, even in hot weather. One problem with the triploids is their low seed germination rate. Average germination is around 50 percent. Since the triploid hybrids are unable to produce viable seed, they also know as mule marigolds.

Signet marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia) are quite different from most marigolds. Signet marigold plants are bushy with fine, lacy foliage. The small, single flowers literally cover the plants in summer. Flower colors range from yellow to orange. They are also edible. The flowers of signet marigolds have a spicy tarragon flavor. The foliage has a pleasant lemon fragrance. Signet marigolds are excellent plants for edging beds and in window boxes. The varieties Golden Gem and Lemon Gem do well in Iowa.

There are basically three planting options available to home gardeners when planting marigolds. Marigold seed can be sown directly outdoors when the danger of frost is past or started indoors 6 weeks prior to the last frost date. Marigolds are also available as bedding plants at garden centers.

Planting site requirements for marigolds are full sun and a well-drained soil. Plant spacing varies from 6 to 9 inches for the French marigolds and up to 18 inches for the taller African marigold varieties.

Summer care of marigolds is simple. Water occasionally during dry weather and pinch off faded flowers to encourage additional bloom. Tall African marigolds may require staking to prevent the plants from falling over or lodging during storms.

While marigolds are seldom bothered by insects and diseases, they are not problem free. Spider mites can devastate marigolds in hot, dry weather. Grasshoppers can also cause considerable damage. Aster yellows is an occasionally disease problem. In a related matter, some gardeners plant marigolds in their vegetable gardens to repel harmful insects. While the marigolds are an attractive addition to the garden, research studies have concluded they aren't effective in reducing insect damage on vegetable crops.

Horticulture & Garden Pest News

          

Varieties of Marigolds

Bradford C. Bearce

WVU Professor -- Horticulture

Family: Compositae
Scientific Name: Tagetes sp.
Origin: South America-Argentina and New Mexico
Classification: Annual, herb
Use: Bedding plants, pot culture, edging, cut flowers
Height: 6 inches to 4 feet
Spread: 6 inches to 3 feet
Hardiness: Tender
Stems (Bark): Herbaceous
Flowers: Orange, yellow, mixed, red, cream and maroon; rounded or flat heads
Fruit: Ineffective
Foliage: Lacy, feather-like, finely dissected, opposite, often pungent odor
Texture: Medium to fine
Growth Rate: Rapid
Form: Rounded
Soil Requirements: Good garden loam, moist, well drained
Maintenance: Keep soil moist but not wet. Remove spent flower heads for continuous flowering
Situation: Sun; flowering delayed if planted in shady areas
Insects & Diseases: Spider mites, spittle bug, aster yellows, wilt
Remarks: Propagate from seed sown indoors in March, April, or direct seed outdoors in May after danger of frost has passed.

Planting

Marigolds require approximately 45 to 50 days to flower after seeding, therefore seeding indoors should be done in late March or early April. The plants should be ready for planting outdoors after the danger of frost has passed,about May 15.

1. Seed may be planted in seedbeds, coldframes, flats, clay pots, or peat pots.
2. Pulverize the soil. Place the seed on the surface or in furrows and cover with 1/4 inch of perlite or vermiculite.
3. Keep the soil moist and warm. The seed will germinate within a few days.
4. When true leaves appear, the individual plants may be transplanted into individual 3-inch containers. Shade for a few days until the plants become established.
5. Give the plants full sun.
6. Plants will be ready to plant in the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Marigolds may be seeded directly into the garden after the danger of frost has passed. Follow the directions above as to preparing soil and seed depth. Seedlings may be thinned if necessary.

Other Varieties: There are many varieties of Marigolds and new ones are introduced each year. Various references group the species and varieties in many different ways, such as by size, (large, semi-dwarf, dwarf) or flower shape, such as chrysanthemums or pompon types, peony types and singles. However, for simplification, here, Marigolds are divided into four basic species: African Marigolds--Tagetes erecta; French Marigolds--Tagetes patula; Triploids--a hybrid (Tagetes erecta x Tagetes patula); Single Marigolds--Tagetes tenuifolia (signata) pumila. Within each of these species there are many hybrids producing variations in color and size.

African Marigolds--Tagetes erecta

Large flowered "African" or "Aztec" Marigolds-- Plants are compact, erect, 12 to 14 inches tall; flowers to 3 1/2 inches across, blooms two to three weeks earlier than tall varieties, most flowers are doubles with flat or ball-like flower heads; colors range from primrose yellow through pumpkin-orange, no bicolors; used primarily as dividers; do not need to be staked as do tall varieties.

Tall--"African" or "Aztec" Marigolds--Large flowers in late summer to fall (short days determine flowering time), orange or yellow; plants attain heights of 3 feet or more and spread 3 feet; space plants 1 foot apart in groups of threes; should be staked or enclosed with wire up to 2 feet in height; used primarily for cutting.

French Marigolds-- Tagetes patula

Large-flowered "French" Marigolds--Used primarily as a divider or bedding plant; medium height (12 to 16 inches and same width) spacing 8 to 12 inches; flowers are large, up to 2 inches in diameter; varieties include flowers which are doubled, large single daisy-like or supercrested.

Dwarf "French" Marigolds--Small plant up to 12 inches; flowers small (1 to 1½ inches across) in colors of yellow, gold or orange; continuous flowering from early summer to late fall, blooms may be crested, tufted, button or single types; some varieties are bicolored, yellow marked with brownish-red; two plantings may be needed as flowering becomes sparse during hot summer "dog days" from planting date.

Triploids (Tagetes erecta x Tagetes patula) hybrid

Triploids-- a cross between "French" and "African" Marigolds; flowers about 2½ inches across and flower well during hot weather; flowers may be bicolored.

Single Marigolds - Tagetes tenuifolia (signata) pumila Single marigolds- simple, daisy-like blooms and long stems; some varieties of merit are Cinnabar, Burgundy, Ripples and Chippendale Daisy.

wvu.edu                         

 

Tags: Single Marigolds, Triploids, French Marigolds, African Marigolds, Aztec Marigolds

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11:14:24 PM EST

     Marigolds and Nematode Control  

    Marigolds are one of the toughest summer annual flowers we can grow here in north central Arizona. They tolerate the heat and alkaline soils, but come in many shapes, colors, and heights. Shapes range from single to frilled to massive round balls. Colors include yellow, gold, orange, ivory, mahogany, and bicolor combinations. Heights range from 6 to 36 inches. With this kind of variability, you can hardly go wrong with marigolds.

The African marigold (Tagetes erecta) is the tallest variety and has the pom-pom type flowers. Now, there are also shorter varieties of African marigolds available. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are shorter and bushier usually reaching a height of 6 to 12 inches. Signet or dwarf marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia) have small (1/2 inch) blooms and lacy, fragrant foliage.

All marigolds do best in full sun and require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight. Prepare soil as you would for a vegetable crop by adding composted organic matter, a little phosphorus, and some soil sulfur if you have highly alkaline soil. Nitrogen should be applied sparingly. Too much nitrogen will produce lots of foliage and few flowers. They can be grown easily from seed or nursery transplants. Do not over water marigolds and allow the soil to dry somewhat between watering. Seeds can easily be collected and planted in the following year.

Marigolds are relatively pest free and many people interplant them in their vegetable gardens to deter insect pests. While the data is lacking as to whether marigolds actually deter insect pests, they definitely attract beneficial insects such as lacewings, ladybeetles, and parasitic wasps. A vegetable garden with some planted flowers is also more attractive and this makes it more enjoyable to work in.

Recent research indicates that marigolds contain compounds toxic to root knot and other plant-parasitic nematodes (microscopic round worms that damage plant roots). Root knot nematodes are not native to our area, but can be brought in with infected plant materials (see the July 7, 1999 Backyard Gardener for more information). The research showed that marigolds, especially certain varieties of French marigolds, significantly reduced root knot nematode populations the following year. Varieties of French marigolds shown to have nematocidal properties are: Bolero, Bonita Mixed, Goldie, Gypsy Sunshine, Petite, Petite Harmony, Petite Gold, Scarlet Sophie, Single Gold, and Tangerine.

If you would like to try using marigolds to manage root knot nematodes, here are some recommendations:

• At the end of the growing season, remove as many roots as possible from the soil by pulling, plowing or tilling. Doing so will reduce the number of safe places where nematodes can survive during the winter.
  
• In winter, till the soil several times to expose nematodes to the sun and weather. You may also want to solarize your soil (see the May 21, 2003 Backyard Gardener).
  
• In spring, plant half of the garden with marigolds and half with root-knot-resistant vegetable cultivars (a few are available – look for the “N” on the label). Plantings in blocks or strips are easy to manage. Strips may comprise one or several rows of vegetables. You will need about 300 marigold plants per 100 sq. ft.
  
• Use a marigold variety listed above.
  
• Space marigold plants, or thin seedlings, so they are 7 inches apart.
  
• Fertilize as needed or according to soil test recommendations. Nutrient imbalances can make nematode problems worse.
  
• Keep weeds under control.
  
• Before the first frost, remove as many seed-bearing flower heads as possible. Then, you will have seed for next year's marigold patches, and fewer volunteer marigolds will sprout among your vegetables.
• Till the remaining marigolds into the soil.
  
• The following spring, repeat the process with this exception: plant marigolds where you planted vegetables the previous year and vice versa.

Enjoy those marigolds! The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on gardening and pest management. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646-9113 ext. 14 or E-mail us at mgardener@verdeonline.com and be sure to include your address and phone number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column .

Marigolds and Nematode Management - June 16, 2004
Jeff Schalau, County Director, Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Arizona edu                             

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2:34:01 PM EST

           Marigold Diseases    

Wilt and Stem Rot (Phytophthora cryptogea) :

The fungus affects the collar portions of the plants. In nursery the infection results in damping-off and is aggravated by soil moisture. In the field the infected plants show wilting. French marigold and dwarf varieties are less susceptible whereas the African types are highly susceptible to the disease.

Control: The disease may be controlled by soil treatment with Captan, Mancozeb, Metalaxyl and Fosetyl-Al.

Collar Rot (Phytophthora sp.; Pythium sp.) :

The symptoms are in the form of black lesions developed on the main stem. Rotting at the collar regions causes death of the plant. Soil sterilization and controlled watering help in reducing the disease incidence.

Leaf Spot and Blight (Alternaria, Cercospora and Septoria sp.) :

Brown necrotic spots develop on leaves, which get enlarged at the later stage of infection. The entire foliage gets damaged and results in poor vegetative growth. Spraying of fungicides is helpful in controlling the disease.

Powdery Mildew (Oidium sp.; Leveillula taurica) :

The symptoms are in the form of whitish powdery growth on the aerial parts of the plant.

Control: Spraying Sulfex (3g/litre of water) can effectively control the disease.

Flower Bud Rot (Alternaria dianthi) :

The fungus infects the young flower buds. The infected buds shrivel and become dark brown in colour. The pathogen also infects leaves causing blight. The infection is visible in the form of brown necrotic spots on margins and tips of older leaves.

Control: Spraying of Mancozeb (2g/litre of water) effectively controls the flower bud and leaf infections.

Damping Off (Pythium sp.) :

The disease is most prevalent at the seedling stage. Necrotic spots and rings develop on the young seedlings causing collapse of the seedlings. Considerable loss is sustained if seedlings are not properly looked after.

Control: Soil sterilization by Formalin @ 2% before sowing and spraying of Dithane Z-78 @ 2g/ litre of water are effective in controlling the disease.

http://www.ficciagroindia.com/production-guidelines/flowers/Marigold/diseases.htm

                    

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